Read AMA Morning Rounds®’ most popular stories in medicine and public health from the week of June 15, 2026–June 19, 2026.
CMS proposes rule for Medicare drug price negotiation program starting in 2029
Reuters (6/12, Roy) reports that CMS “has proposed a rule to establish a permanent framework for its Medicare drug price negotiation program starting in 2029, aiming to lower costs for [millions] of patients while providing drugmakers more certainty.” This “proposed rule includes policies for negotiating and renegotiating prices for costly, single-source drugs.”
Fierce Healthcare (6/12, Landi) reports, “CMS will select up to 20 additional negotiation-eligible drugs covered under Part D and/or payable under Part B for what will be a fourth cycle of negotiations in 2029 as well as future cycles.” Fierce Healthcare adds, “As required by law, the negotiation program must also transition from being implemented through guidance to being codified in regulations as a durable, long-term framework, CMS said.” Additionally, “the rule...proposes a narrow modification of the policy used to identify qualifying single-source drugs to address potential program integrity concerns posed by certain new formulations.”
Nara Organics Recalls Infant Formula Nationwide Over Potential Botulism Risk
Reuters (6/15, S K) reports, “Baby formula maker Nara Organics said it is voluntarily recalling all of its infant formula, currently available in the United States, over potential risk of bacterial contamination.” Nara “said the U.S. FDA and CDC contacted it late Friday and provided information about three infant botulism cases involving babies who had consumed Nara’s formula.” In a “statement, Nara Organics said that while none of its formula tested positive for C. botulinum, it was recalling the products ‘in an abundance of caution.’” The FDA “said on June 13 that the three infants were hospitalized and were undergoing treatment in California, Washington, and Pennsylvania.”
Bloomberg (6/15, Edney, Subscription Publication) reports the CDC is warning parents to not use the product, “which is sold on the company’s website and at Target, on Saturday after three babies confirmed to have consumed it contracted botulism.”
Editor's note: For more information, visit the CDC’s website.
Hormone therapy not an option for millions of women
The New York Times (6/15, Krieger) reports that while hormone therapy offers menopausal and perimenopausal symptom relief, for millions of women, “it is not an option. ... While breast cancer is the most widely recognized reason women may not be able take hormone therapy, which delivers estrogen or progesterone through pills and patches, the list also includes endometrial cancer, certain cardiovascular issues, severe liver disease and blood clotting disorders.” The Times adds that while “there are other options” besides hormone therapy to treat some menopausal symptoms, “because of a lack of awareness, doctors don’t always suggest them, and patients don’t often know to ask for them.”
Diet and exercise may be more effective than metformin in preventing chronic diseases
HealthDay (6/16) reports, “Diet and exercise may be more powerful than” metformin “when it comes to preventing chronic diseases,” according to researchers who “followed more than 1,100 adults who took part in a landmark Diabetes Prevention Program.” The researchers “tracked the development of 15 chronic conditions over two decades, including heart disease, kidney disease, cancer, arthritis and dementia,” with study participants “randomly assigned to a lifestyle program that included moderate-intensity exercise and nutritional changes, metformin or a placebo.” Over 21 years of follow-up, participants “in the lifestyle group were about 20% less likely to develop multiple chronic diseases compared to those in the placebo group.” The study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
MedPage Today (6/16, Monaco) says, “By the end of follow-up, 82% of the lifestyle group, 85% of the metformin group, and 87% of the placebo group developed at least two chronic conditions.”
Pregnant women exposed to dozens of common chemicals linked to early delivery and low birth weight
HealthDay (6/17) reports, “Pregnant women are exposed to dozens of common chemicals linked to early delivery and low birth weight, according to a new study.” Investigators “tested urine samples from more than 5,000 women who gave birth between 2000 and 2021, and compared the findings with pregnancy outcomes.” The researchers found that “on average, the tests detected 45 chemicals in each sample, with as many as 64 found in some participants.” HealthDay adds, “Some of these compounds were consistently associated with earlier delivery and lower birth weight, according to the results.” The findings were published in JAMA Network Open.
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